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Spain's Ferrero to retire next month

9/14/12 1:08 PM | Johan LindahlThe retirement of Juan Carlos Ferrero this autumn will leave Spain with only one active former No. 1 player as the 32-year-old announced that he will end his tennis career at his home event in Valencia next month.

The Spaniard, who won the French Open in 2003 and lost to recent retiree Andy Roddick in the US Open title match that same season, said that it's finally time to quit. "I think at age 32 it's time to hang up the racket after 14 years at the highest level," he said.

Ferrero, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya are the three Spaniards who have held the ATP top spot during their careers. Ferrero currently ranks 111th after several seasons of injury struggles. He has not played since July.

"The Valencia Open 500 will be my last professional tournament," said Ferrero, who also owns a piece of the event in his business base. "This year I played good matches, but I have not given the level I would have liked.

"I will not leave the court, I will stay tied to this wonderful sport, through my academy, of the foundation that bears my name, through sport and collaborations."

Ferrero held the top ranking spot for two months in 2003 and won 16 ATP events. He was a finalist at the 2002 French Open where he lost to compatriot Albert Costa.